IBM offers
a full portfolio of VMware products for System x® and BladeCenter® servers.
These solutions meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. You can
purchase VMware virtualization offerings for server virtualization,
desktop virtualization, virtualization management, and virtualization
network management.

When this offering is paired with System x and BladeCenter servers
and System Networking switches users can:

Improve service levels, decrease both planned and unplanned down
time, and improve employee productivity.

Respond to new business opportunities quickly and process more
information in real time.

Build a virtualization solution that can help them to adjust and
transform their business by establishing a solid foundation for growth.

Licenses for offerings in this announcement include one, three,
or five years of Software Subscription and Support. Software Subscription
and Support renewals for all features are aligned through Passport
Advantage® Express® or Passport Advantage,
reducing the administrative burden of keeping your Subscription and
Support up to date.

If a new release of a given offering in this announcement is made
generally available in Passport Advantage after the announcement
of the offering in System x ordering systems, customers may
elect to take delivery of any release generally available for that
offering during the product registration process.

Eligible software products, offered and selected during the ordering
process with each hardware system, are enabled for electronic download
for the system unit for which the product was ordered. Optionally,
software and license-only orders can be created for these products
based on existing supported hardware system units in your business
environment. Offerings included in this announcement are available
exclusively by electronic download.

Accessibility by people with disabilities

Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act

IBM System
Networking Distributed Virtual Switch 5000V is capable as of February
23, 2012, when used in accordance with IBM's associated documentation,
of satisfying the applicable requirements of Section 508 of the US
Rehabilitation Act, provided that any assistive technology used with
the product properly interoperates with it.

Product identification number

To allow for ease of order submission, the offerings in this announcement
can be configured in conjunction with eligible System
x hardware, software, and license-only configurations that can
be created for this product based on existing supported System
x hardware system units in a given business environment.

Orders placed for the eligible offerings in this announcement will
be routed and fulfilled through Passport Advantage Express.
Invoicing for the initial license orders will occur through the System
x order management systems. Subscription and Support renewals
will be managed through Passport Advantage.

Passport Advantage allows you
to have a common anniversary date for Software Subscription and Support
renewals. The anniversary date, established at the order ship date
for the initial product acquisition, will remain unchanged while your Passport
Advantage Agreement remains in effect. New software purchases
initially include 12, 36, or 60 full months of Subscription and Support
coverage. Subscription and Support in the second year (the first year
of renewal) can be prorated to be coterminous with your common anniversary
date but managed and invoiced through Passport Advantage.
Thereafter, all Software Subscription and Support will renew at the
common anniversary date and include 12 full months of Subscription
and Support.

The Publications Center is a worldwide central repository for IBM product
publications and marketing material with a catalog of 70,000 items.
Extensive search facilities are provided. Payment options for orders
are via credit card (in the US) or customer number for 20 countries.
A large number of publications are available online in various file
formats, and they can all be downloaded by all countries, free of
charge.

Specified operating environment

Software requirements

The program's specifications and specified operating environment
information may be found in documentation accompanying the program,
if available, such as a readme file, or other information published
by IBM,
such as an announcement letter. Documentation and other program content
may be supplied only in the English language.

Companion products

Compatibility

Contact your IBM representative or IBM Business Partner, or refer to
the IBM Sales
Manual for information on the compatibility of hardware and software
for xSeries® servers.
The Sales Manual is updated periodically as new features and
options are announced that support these servers.

Planning information

Installability

Software Subscription and Support (also referred to as Software
Maintenance) is included with licenses purchased through Passport
Advantage and Passport Advantage Express.
Product upgrades and technical support are provided by the Software
Subscription and Support (Software Maintenance) offering as described
in the Agreements. Product upgrades provide the latest versions and
releases to entitled software, and technical support provides voice
and electronic access to IBM support organizations, worldwide.

IBM includes
one year of Software Subscription and Support (also referred to as
Software Maintenance) with each program license acquired. The initial
period of Software Subscription and Support (Software Maintenance)
can be extended by the purchase of a renewal option, if available.

Packaging

For software products in this announcement, physical media and
hardcopy documentation are not included in the deliverable package.
The software code is delivered only via electronic download.

After receipt of an order, the Business Partner or end-user customer
will be required to register and accept Passport Advantage or Passport
Advantage Express terms and conditions. The product
includes the license and one, three or five years of Software Subscription
and Support.

Your Proof of Entitlement for this program is a copy of a paid
sales receipt, purchase order, invoice, or other sales record from IBM or
its authorized reseller from whom you acquired the program, provided
that it states the license charge unit (the characteristics of intended
use of the program; for example, number of processors, number of users)
and quantity acquired. This program, when downloaded from a website,
contains the applicable IBM license agreement and License Information,
if appropriate, and will be presented for acceptance at the time of
installation of the program. For future reference, the license and
License Information will be stored in a directory such as LICENSE.TXT.

Security, auditability, and control

This product uses the Security and auditability features of the
system in which it is installed.

The customer is responsible for evaluation, selection, and implementation
of security features, administrative procedures, and appropriate controls
in application systems and communications facilities. The customer
is responsible for evaluation, selection, and implementation of security
features, administrative procedures, and appropriate controls in application
systems and communication facilities.

IBM Software
Services has the breadth, depth, and reach to manage your services
needs. You can leverage the deep technical skills of our lab-based,
software services team and the business consulting, project management,
and infrastructure expertise of our IBM Global Services team. Also,
we extend our IBM Software
Services reach through IBM Business Partners to provide an extensive
portfolio of capabilities. Together, we provide the global reach,
intellectual capital, industry insight, and technology leadership
to support a wide range of critical business needs.

To learn more about IBM Software Services or to contact a Software
Services sales specialist, visit

Populated Socket: Populated Socket is a unit of measure
by which the program can be licensed. A socket is electronic circuitry
that accepts a processor chip. A Populated Socket is a socket in which
a processor chip is installed. Licensee must obtain entitlements for
each Populated Socket on each physical server made available to the
program.

New licensees

Orders for new licenses will be accepted now. Electronic download
ability begins on the planned availability date.

Basic license

To order the programs described in this announcement, specify the
type model number, order type description, supply feature, and quantity
of desired licenses for the appropriate one-time charge (OTC) features
listed in the tables below. After receipt of your order, you will
be requested to register through Passport Advantage Express to
allow for entitlement for support and notification of upgrades. Upon
registration completion you will be provided with a website for the
electronic download. The one-time charge for the product includes
the license and one, three, or five years of Software Subscription
and Support.

Single entity offering (SEO) numbers in the table below can be
ordered through ibm.com®. The SEO numbers in the table below
are equivalent to the type model number, description, supply feature,
and OTC billing feature numbers as designated in the table. After
receipt of your order, you will be requested to register through Passport
Advantage Express to allow for entitlement for support
and notification of upgrades. Upon registration completion, you will
be provided with a website for the electronic download. The one-time
charge for the product includes the license and one, three, or five
years of Software Subscription and Support.

The information provided in this announcement letter is for reference
and convenience purposes only. The terms and conditions that govern
any transaction with IBM are contained in the applicable contract
documents such as the IBM International Program License Agreement, IBM International Passport
Advantage Agreement, and the International Passport
Advantage Express Agreement.

Licensing

IBM International
Program License Agreement including the License Information document
and Proof of Entitlement (PoE) govern your use of the program. PoEs
are required for all authorized use.

This software license includes Software Subscription and Support
(also referred to as Software Maintenance).

Agreement for Acquisition of Software Maintenance

These programs are licensed under the IBM Program License Agreement (IPLA). IBM includes
one, three or five years of Software Subscription and Support (also
referred to as Software Maintenance) with the initial license acquisition
of each program acquired.

License Information form number

License ID: L-JKII-8NJ2QX

The program's License Information will be available for review
on the IBM Software
License Agreement website

Limited warranty applies

Yes

Limited warranty

IBM warrants
that when the program is used in the specified operating environment,
it will conform to its specifications. The warranty applies only
to the unmodified portion of the program. IBM does not warrant uninterrupted
or error-free operation of the program or that IBM will
correct all program defects. You are responsible for the results
obtained from the use of the program.

IBM provides
you with access to IBM databases containing information on known
program defects, defect corrections, restrictions, and bypasses at
no additional charge. For further information, consult the IBM Software
Support Handbook found at

IBM will
maintain this information for at least one year after the original
licensee acquires the program (warranty period).

Program technical support

Technical support of a program product version or release will
be available for a minimum of three years from the general availability
date, as long as your Software Subscription and Support (also referred
to as Software Maintenance) is in effect. This technical support allows
you to obtain assistance (via telephone or electronic means) from IBM for
product-specific, task-oriented questions regarding the installation
and operation of the program product. Software Subscription and Support
(Software Maintenance) also provides you with access to updates (modifications
or fixes), releases, and versions of the program. You will be notified,
via announcement letter, of discontinuance of support with 12 months'
notice. If you require additional technical support from IBM, including
an extension of support beyond the discontinuance date, contact your IBM representative
or IBM Business
Partner. This extension may be available for a fee.

Usage restriction

Software Subscription and Support applies

Yes. All distributed software licenses include Software Subscription
and Support (also referred to as Software Maintenance) for a period
of 12 months from the date of acquisition, providing a streamlined
way to acquire IBM software
and assure technical support coverage for all licenses. Extending
coverage for a total of three years from date of acquisition may be
elected.

While your Software Subscription and Support is in effect, IBM provides
you assistance for your routine, short duration installation and usage
(how-to) questions, and code-related questions. IBM provides
assistance via telephone and, if available, electronic access, only
to your information systems (IS) technical support personnel during
the normal business hours (published prime shift hours) of your IBM support
center. (This assistance is not available to your end users.) IBM provides
Severity 1 assistance 24 hours a day, every day of the year. For
additional details, consult your IBM Software Support Handbook at

Software Subscription and Support does not include assistance for
the design and development of applications, your use of programs in
other than their specified operating environment, or failures caused
by products for which IBM is not responsible under this agreement.

For more information about the Passport Advantage Agreement,
visit the Passport Advantage website at

System i Software Maintenance applies

Variable charges apply

Educational allowance available

If you are an IBM Business Partner -- Distributor
for Workstation Software acquiring products from IBM, you
may link to Passport Advantage Online for
resellers where you can obtain Business Partner pricing information.
An IBM ID
and password are required.

IBM Global Financing

IBM Global
Financing offers competitive financing to credit-qualified customers
to assist them in acquiring IT solutions. Offerings include financing
for IT acquisition, including hardware, software, and services, from
both IBM and
other manufacturers or vendors. Offerings (for all customer segments:
small, medium, and large enterprise), rates, terms, and availability
can vary by country. Contact your local IBM Global Financing organization
or visit

IBM Global
Financing offerings are provided through IBM Credit LLC in the United States,
and other IBM subsidiaries
and divisions worldwide to qualified commercial and government customers.
Rates are based on a customer's credit rating, financing terms, offering
type, equipment type, and options, and may vary by country. Other
restrictions may apply. Rates and offerings are subject to change,
extension, or withdrawal without notice.

Financing from IBM Global Financing helps you preserve cash
and credit lines, enables more technology acquisition within current
budget limits, permits accelerated implementation of economically
attractive new technologies, offers payment and term flexibility,
and can help match project costs to projected benefits. Financing
is available worldwide for credit-qualified customers.

The Americas Call Centers, our national direct marketing organization,
can add your name to the mailing list for catalogs of IBM products.

Note: Shipments will begin after the planned availability date.

Trademarks

IBM, System x, BladeCenter, Passport Advantage, Express, xSeries and ibm.com are registered trademarks of IBM Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.

Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

Terms of use

IBM products
and services which are announced and available in your country can
be ordered under the applicable standard agreements, terms, conditions,
and prices in effect at the time. IBM reserves the right to modify
or withdraw this announcement at any time without notice. This announcement
is provided for your information only. Additional
terms of use are located at